At week 12, the first asparagus stems of the season were harvested at the Kallen farm. The Prius and Rakete varieties marked this “record” start to the season, even though an earlier start a week earlier was possible, according to Helena Kallen, who runs the family asparagus farm in Dormagen. “This early start is largely due to favorable weather conditions and the characteristics of our site, as well as cultural measures implemented very early, including the formation of ridges in October and the early laying of mini-tunnels.”
According to Mrs. Kallen, the demand is particularly encouraging at the beginning of the season. Regional asparagus was sold directly to consumers through the farm shop, while the first deliveries to retailers began in week 13. “The feedback has been extremely positive so far. It remains to be seen if the volumes of regional asparagus will be sufficient to meet the massive demand for Easter. Production prices are considered satisfactory at the beginning of the season, but it is the average level throughout the season that will be crucial.”
“Direct Marketing” Following the construction of a new building in 2006, the production capacities of the Kallen family farm have gradually expanded. Today, the company cultivates approximately 120 hectares of potatoes, 100 hectares of asparagus, and 45 hectares of strawberries. About half of the volumes are intended for supply to distribution platforms in North Rhine-Westphalia and partially in Hesse, followed by retail and direct sales. Kallen explains: “We market our products without intermediaries, which gives us great reactivity and flexibility.”
Close to two-thirds of the land is devoted to white asparagus, well established, but green asparagus is gaining importance, continues Mrs. Kallen. “We have been cultivating green asparagus for more than ten years: even though its production is more demanding, I still see development potential, especially with green varieties without anthocyanins. These light green varieties allow us to differentiate ourselves from imported products on the shelves and more precisely meet the growing demand for this quality.”
The purple asparagus variety Erasmus has also been an interesting niche for a few years and is grown on a limited area. “We once offered a mix of the three colors in one pack, but the different preparation methods hindered this concept. This year, purple asparagus will be marketed for the first time as a separate product under a new brand.”
“The entire range of products from the Kallen farm is well represented in the regional assortments of large retailers, including triplets from our own production.”
“A Strong Presence in Strawberry Culture” Next to potatoes and asparagus, strawberries are the third mainstay of the production, also on the rise. The first harvests of the Flair variety are expected from the third week of April, says Mrs. Kallen. “In recent years, we have heavily invested in cultivation techniques. Our harvesting period currently extends from late April to late August, but we aim to extend it in the future.” Field cultivation remains a key element in this strategy. “Faced with the increasing number of extreme weather events, it is certainly more demanding, but in the conditions of our site, it allows for satisfactory yields and quality. A balanced choice of varieties and impeccable cultivation rigor are essential in this regard.”
“A Strong Family Business” Despite a sometimes tense market environment marked by generalized cost increases, the Kallen family remains confident about the future. They intend to preserve the family character of the business. “We are sufficiently structured to be competitive in the market while remaining close enough to the ground to master every detail. This is what guarantees our quality; and it must remain so in the future,” she concludes.
For more information: Helena Kallen Hof Kallen Gbr. Forsterhof 1 41541 Dormagen (Stürzelberg) Tel. : 02133-479360 [email protected] https://hof-kallen.de/
